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A powerful winter storm swept across Austria overnight, bringing the heavy snowfall that meteorologists had warned about. Large parts of the country woke up on Friday to several centimeters of fresh snow — with Vienna and Lower Austria particularly hard hit.
In Vienna’s Donaustadt district and in St. Pölten, snow depths have already exceeded 15 centimeters. In Kornat, Carinthia, the situation is even more dramatic: snow levels have risen by more than 40 centimeters since Thursday.
Roads Slippery, Public Transport Disrupted
The significant amounts of new snow, combined with drifting in some areas, have created slick and difficult driving conditions. Public transport services are also experiencing delays and disruptions. The wet, heavy snow poses an additional risk of snow break, with trees bending or snapping under the weight. This in turn threatens power lines, raising the possibility of localized outages.
One of the most serious incidents occurred overnight on the A21 motorway, which had to be closed in both directions between the Steinhäusl and Vösendorf junctions. Drivers are being forced to take long detours via the A1. Other motorways are also affected, with trucks repeatedly getting stuck and causing traffic jams.
Delays at Vienna Airport
The winter weather is also impacting air travel. Vienna International Airport reported numerous delays on Friday morning as crews work to keep runways clear and aircraft de-iced.
Authorities are urging drivers to exercise extreme caution and allow extra time for travel as the winter storm continues to affect eastern Austria.
- source: oe24.at/picture: pixabay.com
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